MSc Development Economics (Part Time)

Key details

MSC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS (PART TIME)

Start Year

2020

Attendance

Part Time

Award

Degree of Master of Science

Duration (years)

Explore the complexity of economic development with an approach that’s both analytically rigorous and problem and policy oriented.

On this MSc you’ll learn to apply rigorous economic analyses to real-world problems like poverty and underdevelopment to identify effective policies. Importantly, you’ll integrate methods, research findings and new insights from behavioural and experimental economics. While taught by specialised development economists, the MSc is housed in the multi/interdisciplinary School of International Development. This gives you the chance to take two taught modules from a choice taught by political scientists, anthropologists, specialists on natural resource, gender, and education – making this course a fascinating and rewarding choice.

About

You’ll be taught by a team of internationally respected development economists with a vast amount of experience in the field. Specifically, the use of experimental and behavioural economics puts this group in the forefront of innovative development research internationally – and you’ll benefit from their learnings.

The programme applies rigorous economic analyses to real-world problems, like poverty and underdevelopment, to identify effective policies. International development organisations and agencies (for example, theWorld Bank, IMF, DFID, Oxfam, Action Aid, WIDER) increasingly recognise the need for these skills and this programme provides a sound foundation in contemporary development economics.

It’s unique because it integrates methods, research findings and new insights from behavioural and experimental economics.Compared to traditional development economics courses you’ll acquire more subtle understanding of development processes and more realistic policy analyses.

It provides strong links with theMScin Impact Evaluation taught within the same School; its two core modules may both be taken as optional modules if you wish to do so. You can also take up to two out of your six taught modules from a long list of modules taught by political scientists, anthropologists, specialists on natural resource, gender, and education.

This degree provides excellent employability prospects, with graduates employed in both development and non-development organisations, including international organisations, academia,NGOs, government ministries and the private sector. It also provides solid grounding if you’d like to pursue a PhD in development.

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Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

You’ll be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and an optional dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.

You’ll receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

You’ll also be encouraged to prepare essay plans or outlines in advance of essay deadlines, and to discuss these with the relevant lecturer during their office hours or by email. In addition, you’ll typically receive oral and/or written feedback on an initial coursework assignment well in advance of your deadline for the main coursework assignment.

Finally, the dissertation enables you to develop specific research skills such as conducting research using primary and secondary data, researching specific topics and questions, thinking critically, and linking theoretical concepts to practical issues.

Structure

This course is made up of a total of 180 credits:

Compulsory and optional modules (120 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits)

For one of your core modules, you’ll study Econometric Methods For Development. The aim of this module is to introduce you to basic econometric theory and provide you with sufficient knowledge and practical skills for competent use of econometrics in empirical research. The module also enables you to understand and interpret econometric research results. By the end of the module you'll have acquired sufficient knowledge and skill to apply multivariate analysis of cross-sectional and time-series data to a wide range of macro- and micro-economic problems of development. In addition to lectures, the module includes computer workshops on Stata (a widely used econometrics software) and seminars.

In Economic Policy Analysis, you’ll examine a selection of topics in applied development economics that are important for government policy – chosen from areas such as international trade, foreign investment, government taxation and spending, labour markets and employment, agriculture, finance, business regulation, energy, and climate change. You’ll look at the economic theory relevant to each topic, and how government policies have worked in practice.

Macroeconomics of Development provides you with an understanding of macroeconomic theory and policy in developing countries. This will include an evaluation of alternative theories of economic growth and their policy implications, and an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of external shocks. By the end of the module, you’ll have a good understanding of modern theories of economic growth and open economy macroeconomics, and be able to apply those theories to economic policy issues in developing countries.

And Microeconomics of Development provides you with the building blocks for microeconomic analysis of development.

A range of optional seminars and workshops are offered duringyour Master’s programme for the teaching and strengthening of your skills.Sessions to support learning – in particular essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year.Development practice training is also provided.

The Behavioural and Experimental Development Economics Research Group Research in the School of International Development addresses contemporary challenges in developing and transition economies via disciplinary and multi/interdisciplinary approaches. Research is organised into a series of Research Groups.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

In the School of International Development we excel at sharing our enthusiasm and subject knowledge in the classroom with our amazing and diverse students. Alongside this, we have also been building extensive capabilities in the use of technology for online teaching. In response to the Covid-19 crisis we are have been accelerating this development and for 2020-21 will be offering an exciting programme of blended learning. Because the nature of the crisis and associated restrictions are subject to uncertainty and change it is not possible to guarantee exactly any fixed level of classroom time. What is certain is that we will make the most of the face-to-face time permitted by government advice on safety, along with a range of stimulating and interactive online sessions.

Teaching methods include mainly lectures and seminars. Your lectures go beyond the customary ‘chalk-and-talk’ approach, and include a range of interactive tasks and activities. The use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representation of empirical evidence in international development (e.g. through statistical programmes). Other examples include the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts.

Through seminar group work and presentations you’ll also be able to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting academic information in a clear and cogent manner.

Independent study

You’ll read suggested academic articles and books, submitting assignments as specified for each module. Your independent study gives you the chance to prepare for in-class sessions and assignments, and to concentrate on the areas that interest you the most.

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Assessment for Year 2

You’ll receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Structure

This course is made up of a total of 180 credits:

Compulsory and optional modules (120 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits)

And Microeconomics of Development provides you with the building blocks for microeconomic analysis of development.

TheBehavioural and Experimental Development EconomicsResearch Group
Research in the School of International Development addresses contemporary challenges in developing and transition economies via disciplinary and multi/interdisciplinary approaches. Research is organised into a series of Research Groups.

Teaching and Learning

Teaching

Independent study

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Open Days

This is the first year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take an additional module in their second year.

Assessment for Year 1

You’ll receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Compulsory Modules

MICROECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7018A

Credits 20

The module provides the building blocks for microeconomic analysis of development. Topics include: • Poverty, inequality and welfare • Agricultural household production • Intra- household allocation • Risk, uncertainty and insurance • Markets and Institutions: credit • Markets and institutions: labour • Human capital : education, health and nutrition • Public goods, collective action • Institutions, transaction costs • Policy reforms • Household surveys and their analysis. The module consists of lectures, seminars and workshops. Students are assessed by essay and exam.

ECONOMETRIC METHODS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7025A

Credits 20

The aim of this introductory module is to introduce you to basic econometric theory and provide you with sufficient knowledge and practical skill for competent use of econometrics in empirical research. The module also enables you to understand and interpret econometric research results. By the end of the module you’ll have acquired sufficient knowledge and skill to apply multivariate analysis of cross-sectional and time-series data to a wide range of macroeconomic and microeconomic problems of development. In addition to lectures, the module includes computer workshops on Stata (widely used econometrics software) and seminars.

MACROECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7029B

Credits 20

This module will provide you with an understanding of macroeconomic theory and policy in developing countries. This will include an evaluation of alternative theories of economic growth and their policy implications, and an analysis of the macroeconomic effects of external shocks. By the end of the module, you will have a good understanding of modern theories of economic growth and open economy macroeconomics, and be able to apply those theories to economic policy issues in developing countries.

ECONOMIC POLICY ANALYSIS

Code DEV-7017B

Credits 20

You will examine a selection of topics in applied development economics that are important for government policy – chosen from areas such as international trade, foreign investment, government taxation and spending, labour markets and employment, agriculture, finance, business regulation, energy and climate change. You will look at the economic theory relevant to each topic, and how government policies have worked in practice.

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Open Days

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

This is the second year of your taught masters programme. Students may with the consent of the Course Director take an additional module in their second year.

Assessment for Year 2

You’ll receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.

Compulsory Modules

DISSERTATION

Code DEV-7056X

Credits 60

Production of a short (8000-12000 words) dissertation on an approved topic.

Optional B Modules

(0-20 credits)

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES AND ANALYSIS

Code DEV-7005A

Credits 20

The course lectures and seminars will include the following topics: • Development research & research ethics • Research design and method; sampling, questionnaire design, interviews • The role of qualitative methods in quantitative research and mixed methods • Participatory and action research • Design and implementation of household surveys on various topics, e.g. income, consumption, employment, health, nutrition, education, etc. Basic data processing and statistical analysis and presentation are shown based on tools such as Excel, SPSS and STATA.

WELFARE AND EVALUATION IN DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7038A

Credits 20

This module provides you with an introduction to the theory and practice of impact evaluation. The focus will be on issues around evidence-based policy making, approaches to wellbeing, and their practical application in terms of evaluating the effect of development interventions on the quality of people’s lives. The first part discusses the notion of evidence-based policy, introduces the students to the area of evaluation and reviews the role of programme theory in evaluation. The second part addresses the theory of welfare, with particular reference to poverty, inequality, and multi-dimensional ill-being as well as cost effectiveness. The third part considers policy and evaluation in practice looking at a range of sectors and contexts.

CRITICAL ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE

Code DEV-7052A

Credits 20

The module offers you a critical introduction to and perspectives on development interventions and development projects in particular. Our aim is to equip you with the familiarity with key development tools and techniques such that you are confident to use them in a professional setting. The module provides you with both a practical grounding in the key tools and techniques for project design and management, but also a critical awareness of the tools' limitations. We cover the key tools such as context and evidence reviews, theories of change, logframes, monitoring and evaluation plans, and how these must react to different kinds of programming - ranging from a rapid onset humanitarian intervention to longer term development programmes. Central to the module's approach is an experiential learning approach which gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the tools and develop your understanding of good practices through worked examples and do-it-yourself exercises. Our exercises stress realistic scenarios and challenges, drawing on the teaching team's experiences in the sector. The assessment is based on an authentic exercise that you may encounter in your careers - the formulation of a proposal for a development intervention. We reflect on the limitations of these tools and this experience, introducing some of the key critiques of projectised development, and giving you the tools to analyse and navigate the power relations of the development sector..

Optional C Modules

(0-20 credits)

DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES

Code DEV-7001A

Credits 20

You will explore different theoretical ideas and debates about development, and place these in their historical and political contexts. You will critically assess the various ways in which development has been conceptualised, from the end of the Second World War to the present day. You will cover topics including modernisation theory; dependency theory; the role of the state; neo-liberalism and the Washington Consensus, neo-institutionalism and the post-Washington Consensus; poverty and basic needs; human development and capabilities; equity and justice; rights and empowerment; and sustainable development. A key point of the module is to show how ideas in development emerge and how they shape policies and practice in development in the present day.

INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7002A

Credits 20

The aim of the module is for you to gain an understanding of current debates on the principles and theories linking education to development in a range of social contexts. The module will introduce you to theories of education and development including international and comparative education. These are examined in relation to the broader challenges of development. Topics in the module may include: theories of human development and capabilities, human capital and rights based approaches, theories of equity, social justice and inclusive education. You will examine schooling in contexts of chronic poverty, models of schooling and de-schooling, formal and non-formal education, the challenges of linguistic and cultural diversity, inclusive education and disability, gender inequalities, and the education of nomads and other migratory groups.

GENDER PERSPECTIVES IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7003A

Credits 20

The aim of this unit is to provide you with a solid grounding in gender analysis of development, and to enable you to understand the link between gender and key debates within development studies such as poverty, violence, religion and the role of men in gender and development. The module introduces and explains the range of ideas, debates and tools, which are the foundations of gender analysis, within a discussion of key issues in gender analysis of development: the nature of the household and kinship, gender roles, power and empowerment, and environmental change. The unit stands alone as a foundation for gender analysis of development, it also builds the necessary basis for the more applied units which follow in the spring semester, and for dissertations based on gender topics.

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Code DEV-7014A

Credits 20

This module provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the analysis and understanding of issues of environmental change, and of the relationships between environment and development. Students will have a critical understanding of social constructions of cause and effect relationships in environment and development issues, including a critical understanding of scientific assessments. They will be able to link these understandings to topics encountered in other courses, and to develop their own perspectives on environment and development issues. In particular they should understand the somewhat different perspectives in ‘less developed countries’ on environment and development issues. The course consists of weekly workshops and seminar sessions, which include videos and discussions oriented around core issues and readings. Assessment is based on coursework and written examination.

RURAL LIVELIHOODS AND AGRARIAN CHANGE

Code DEV-7020A

Credits 20

Poverty and hunger remain key developmental challenges, driving poor health and ill-being on the one hand and conflict and violence on the other. This is the central question addressed by this module. In this module, you will explore different approaches to understanding rural livelihoods. You will be equipped with the tools and frameworks to critically assess different strategies for livelihoods-building and their implications for poverty and inequality, including those of class and gender, at the micro-level. Starting with an understanding of key concepts of poverty, food security, gender, capabilities, capitals and entitlements, you will apply these to a host of contexts and programmes through seminar discussions. This will enable a deeper understanding of the interconnections between the wider policy context, the social structure that shapes entitlements, the assets available to groups and individuals and their livelihood strategies. You will also explore the links between the rural and urban, and the changes over time. You will have an opportunity to experience some of the dilemmas confronting the rural poor through an experiential game.

SOCIAL ANALYSIS FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7021A

Credits 20

Effective social development and policy are based on sound conceptual foundations, and this module focuses on the conceptual tools that underpin policy relevant social analysis. You will develop skills to analyse social contexts which influence interventions and social change (‘development’), using concepts from sociology, anthropology and political analysis. There is an old development adage that ‘if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but if you give him a fishing rod you feed him for a lifetime’. Think about social theory and concepts as a fishing rod! The module is about social concepts and theory, but we always apply these concepts to practical social development issues and interventions. You will apply your knowledge and understanding of social concepts to important international development issues, for example (and these can vary each year) the social analysis of HIV, the social analysis of poverty & micro-credit interventions, or the social analysis of conflict and peace.

GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7023A

Credits 20

“Good governance” and durable democracy are key items on the International Development agenda. However, despite their prominence in the development discourse, it remains contested not only how to achieve these political development goals, but also how to define them in the first place. The aim of Governance, Democracy and Development is to critically assess the possible definitions, contested causes and arguable consequences of “good governance” and democracy. Key topics to be discussed include how to define and measure democracy and “good governance”, explanations for the emergence of democracy, theories on the survival of democracy and dictatorship, local forms of governance and democracy, aid and governance, trust and cooperation, the effects of democracy and dictatorship on prospects of economic development, and key challenges to democracy in the 21st century. Throughout the module, you will be expected to assess the strengths and limitations of central concepts and theories from the academic debate by applying them to relevant empirical evidence, such as political regime trends in Turkey or the economic effects of recent elections in Kenya.

PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBALISATION

Code DEV-7028A

Credits 20

Globalisation refers to the increasingly interconnected nature of social life on our planet. It has been described as ‘the most important change in human history’. You will critically examine a number of key debates about globalisation: about what is driving the process, and about what impacts it is having – for example, on economic development, poverty and inequality, conflict, and the environment. This module takes an inter-disciplinary approach, presenting different conceptual frameworks within which contemporary globalisation is analysed.

MEDIA AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7030A

Credits 20

The media plays an increasingly important role in international development - from promoting mass mobilisation and participation to facilitating the flow of information locally, nationally and internationally. The media are also central to encouraging charitable donations, promoting democracy and human rights, and delivering public health messages during emergencies. You’ll gain a critical introduction to the broad range of issues relevant to the relationship between media and development. You’ll explore the fields of development communication, media development and media representations of development.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT I: SCIENCE, IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION

Code DEV-7042A

Credits 20

Climate change presents a challenge to development that is both complex and urgent. Populations in less developed countries are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A multi-disciplinary approach allows us to understand the causes, consequences and responses to climate change in the 21st century. This module explores the causes of climate change, its impacts on development and the role of adaptation in reducing vulnerability to climate change and promoting climate resilient development. The first part of the module covers key aspects of climate change science necessary for an essential understanding of the causes and expected future impacts of climate change. The second part of the module focuses on the theory and practice of adaptation to climate change at different scales, from national policy making to local level case studies. A programme of lectures, workshops and group and individual work allow students to explore the module material. This module gives you sufficient grasp of the scientific underpinnings of climate change science to engage confidently in debate with non-specialists on the causes and consequences of climate change. It also gives you the theoretical and applied knowledge to research and plan for adaptation to climate change.

GLOBAL MEDIA STUDIES

Code DEV-7044A

Credits 20

This module will provide you with a broad, current and inter-disciplinary understanding of the changing role of the mass/news media today. You’ll look at the structure of media globally as well as in the UK. You’ll consider, from several different academic perspectives, how media content is produced and circulated and what shapes these processes. You’ll also examine how media affects peoples and societies and review debates about media influence and power. Within this module you will also be introduced to relevant research methods for critically analysing media content and be guided through critical readings of key research in this area.

Optional D Modules

(0-20 credits)

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Code DEV-7036B

Credits 20

The main aim of the module is to prepare students for carrying out qualitative data collection and analysis following various approaches and techniques. It will provide you with the skills to use a number of different social science research methods to collect and analyse data. It will also give a basic understanding of how to link research questions and methods and of research design more generally, as well as data analysis, data management, and producing a piece of written work from the data.

APPLIED METHODS FOR IMPACT EVALUATION

Code DEV-7037B

Credits 20

This module will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the most important methods of impact evaluation. For that purpose, it will provide you with instruction in and hands-on experiences of the main quantitative and qualitative impact evaluation methods, with an emphasis on the quantitative.

GLOBALISATION, BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7047B

Credits 20

This module provides an analysis of the way in which global production is organized and the roles played by the state, business and civil society, and the relations between them. It focuses on key business actors, such as transnational, and looks in depth at issues of resource extraction in developing countries. Various aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility, including relations with local communities and workers, as well as the impacts on the environment and human rights, are discussed.

Optional G Modules

(0-20 credits)

CONTEMPORARY WORLD DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7000B

Credits 20

The objective of Contemporary World Development is to examine key debates around development objectives, processes and agencies. While issues discussed here are of contemporary significance, references will be made to the historical contexts in which these debates have arisen. Concerns central to development policy making will be reviewed through theoretically grounded critical perspectives. Topics covered include the Millennium Development Goals, donors and aid politics, state and NGOs, and poverty.

RURAL POLICIES & POLITICS

Code DEV-7004B

Credits 20

Around three-quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas and within most developing countries the gap between the rural poor and better off urban residents continues to widen. The lives of the rural poor can be greatly influenced by policies in areas such as agriculture, land, social protection, natural resources, health, education and trade. This module reviews important policies and issues in these and other areas. It also guides students to critically analyse policy choices within specific contexts. Rural Policies & Politics recognises the importance of looking at rural policies with consideration of particular socio-economic and political contexts, as well as in relation to larger-scale trends that are affecting rural areas including globalisation, urbanisation, de-agrarianisation, and rapid technological change.

EDUCATIONAL POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7011B

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to help you understand and critically examine, policy-making processes and specific policies for educational development. You will discover the relationships between policy and practice in a range of international, national and local development contexts. Through this module you will explore different approaches to policy development and familiarise yourself with dominant global policy agendas in education - asking who makes or influences policy, and considering policies as socially situated documents, practices and processes. The module introduces you to educational policy-making to address a range of development challenges and how related strategies are enacted in practice; drawing on policy theory and ethnographic and school-based research, as well as practical sessions to critique policy-related writing, examine models of educational quality and curricula, and explore issues of school-related gender based violence.

CONFLICT, CIVIL WARS AND PEACE

Code DEV-7015B

Credits 20

The number of violent intrastate conflicts has outweighed the number of violent interstate conflicts for more than five decades. Yet it was only with the end of the Cold War that academics and policy-makers started paying more attention to the possible causes and consequences of large-scale intrastate violence. Today, questions of effective conflict management, especially of large-scale civil wars, are among the top priorities of international development agencies. The aim of the Conflict, Civil Wars and Peace module is to critically assess the possible causes and consequences of violent intrastate conflicts as well as their implications for the wider development agenda. Key topics to be discussed in the module include causes, dynamics and consequences of different types of violent conflict, strategies and causes of terrorism, the role of gender during and after violent intrastate conflicts, the (contested) relationship(s) between natural resource wealth and civil wars, institutional approaches to conflict management, the rationale and possible effects of third-party intervention in civil wars, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts, including state- and peace-building as well as transitional justice. Throughout the module, you will be expected to assess the strengths and limitations of central concepts and theories from the academic debate by applying them to relevant empirical evidence, such as the role of gender during the Rwandan genocide in 1994 or the performance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's post-civil war power-sharing arrangement.

TOOLS AND SKILLS IN ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

Code DEV-7022B

Credits 20

How can sustainable development be achieved in a way that both protects the environment whilst pursuing development that is fair and equitable? Often those who benefit least from development projects are most vulnerable to the costs of development, such as pollution of rivers and loss of land, yet they have little say in development decisions. This module introduces you to important tools and frameworks used by researchers, government agencies, businesses and non-governmental organisations for managing environmental and natural resources for sustainable development. You will learn to critique and apply a range of the most widely used tools. Examples that are covered in this module include climate vulnerability assessment, livelihoods analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, participatory decision making and scenarios methods. The module places an emphasis on putting concepts and tools into practice and understanding how environmental assessments influence management actions. The module includes lectures and seminars; including a series of ‘competency skills’ based seminars which will provide an opportunity to experience and develop some of the key skills that are used widely in the environment and development sectors (e.g. writing a government policy brief, or an Expression of Interest for tender). For this module, both individual and team working will be important. You will gain confidence and skills in applying and critiquing the leading tools and frameworks used by sustainable development professionals.

POLITICAL ECOLOGY

Code DEV-7033B

Credits 20

This course seeks to provide students with a solid understanding of political ecology theory and to enable them to apply this theory for analysing environment and development problems. After a brief introduction to key theoretical concepts in political ecology, students review key contributions to major policy fields in environment and development. They do this in a series of reading seminars, covering agriculture and biotechnology, climate change, conservation, fisheries, forestry, water management and other fields. The course ends with a workshop on the role of policy in political ecology.

GLOBALISED AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS

Code DEV-7045B

Credits 20

The aim of this module is to understand how forces operating at the global scale affect food and agriculture. These forces include trends in farming and trade, environmental change, policy developments, and social movements. Food security is a central theme; we explore different ways food security is defined and how it is contested internationally, considering global institutions like FAO, interest groups, and diverse policy agendas (e.g. food sufficiency, nutrition, sustainability). The module considers a range of issues currently affecting food and farming systems - environmental change, changing diets (more meat, processed foods), `post-production' concerns with food safety or farming’s impact on ecosystems, global agribusiness, agricultural innovation systems and global-scale changes in food prices. Students will gain critical understanding of debates around these issues and of how different policy actors engage with them. These actors include firms, public R&D institutions, farmers' movements, and major donors and philanthropic organisations. An abiding concern is understanding impacts for the poor and vulnerable, particularly smallholder farmers, but also consumers in the North and South, and those involved in value chains. The module will help students develop a critical and inter-disciplinary understanding of key international policy debates that have relevance to agriculture.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT II: GOVERNANCE, POLICY AND SOCIETY

Code DEV-7051B

Credits 20

This module critically examines international/national climate change governance, policy and societal impacts from and responses to climate change and climate change policy. The first half of the semester will discuss the history and politics of the international climate change negotiations and then critically examine the way the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change operates. You’ll look in detail at several items under negotiation with significant implications for developing countries and we will discuss global carbon markets. The second half of the semester will turn to the interface of climate change and society. It will discuss participatory governance and urban responses to climate change as well as critically examining ethical/justice related debates, the role of energy demand and lifestyle in tackling climate change. The seminars will be interactive and enable you to understand the international negotiating process and ways to engage positively with climate change.

CRITICAL ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE 2

Code DEV-7052B

Credits 20

This module develops an advanced understanding of some of the challenges and changes in aid delivery that are introduced in Critical Issues in Development Practice 1, in the autumn semesters. Together these modules serve as the core foundations for the MA in Development Practice (DP). With the grounding the previous module provides, Critical Issues in Development Practice 2 will expand your understanding to new different areas of concern and practice, across a wide range of approaches and topics in contemporary aid delivery. Themes explored will include specific approaches to aid delivery, such as human rights based approaches to development, and how this intersects with concerns around good governance as a key pillar for development. You will also be exposed to debates about global aid architecture and institutions, and wider global conditions in which aid operates, including around the politicisation of aid and the implications of the ‘securitisation’ agenda. A complementary strand of the module will examine shifting parameters of aid delivery, including around businesses and private sector involvement, for example in how public private partnerships might operate for the sustainable development goals. Examining such approaches includes considering the potential conceptual contradictions underlying social or human development objectives and business motives, and ways forward, such as looking at business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and social enterprise. The overall goal is to give you a deep and broad understanding of the key issues driving change in the sector for coming decades.

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Entry Requirements

Degree classification

2.1 or equivalent

Degree subject

Social Science with a strong background in Economics.

Additional entry requirements

Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.

September Pre-Sessional Courses

All applicants are expected to attend an introductory full-time course in Mathematics and Statistics for Economists in the fortnight preceding the Masters programme. This course is compulsory and incorporates the techniques of calculus and matrix algebra; in addition, students are introduced to the econometric software package which will be used in their MSc programme. For entry in September 2020 this course will commence on 9 September and registration will take place on 8 September 2020.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in all components)
PTE (Pearson): 58 (minimum 42 in all components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be offering Pre-sessional courses online from June to September 2020. Further details can be found on our Online Pre-Sessional English webpage.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

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Course Reference Number: 664802

MSc DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS (PART TIME)